Bhutan Festival Tour

1. What are the top festivals in Bhutan?

The 4 top Tshechus are Thimphu Tshechu (Thimphu, 24 - 26 September, 2023), Punakha Tsechu (Punakha, 1 - 3 March, 2023), Paro Tshechu (Paro, 2 - 6 April, 2023) and Wangdue Tsechu (Wangdue Phodrang, 22 - 24 September, 2023). During these religion-related festivals, locals would dress in fine costumes and gather in local temples, monasteries or dzongs to enjoy the different kinds of dance, folk music, receiving blessings and washing away their sins.

However, there are also other non-religious festivals in different regions for you to enjoy, like the Matsutake Mushroom Festival (Bumthang, 20-21 August), Rhododendron Festival (Thimphu, 19-21 April), and Black Necked Crane Festival (Gangtey, 11 November).

2. When is the best time to Experience Bhutan Festivals?

To enjoy the top Bhutan festivals, spring (March, April and May) and autumn (September, October and November) are the best seasons. Moreover, looking at the Bhutan festival calendar, you will see October and November have most of the festivals. So apart from those top festivals, you can also go to other less famous ones to embrace the versatile culture. Weather-wise it is also the best time to have Bhutan festival tours since it is warmer and the sky is clearer.

On the other hand, you can see that in wintertime (December, January and February) and summertime (June, July and August), there are also some important festivals, like Punakha Tsechu in February, Haa Summer Festival in July and Matsutake Mushroom Festival in August, etc.

3. How many days should I stay for a Bhutan Festival Tour?

In general, the time span for Bhutan festival tours varies from 3 to 5 days to 8 to 10 days. Usually, festivals are celebrated for 3 days. The most popular festival tours focus on western Bhutan, i.e. Paro, Thimphu and Punakha. Thus 3 to 5 days are well enough. But if you want to go to central Bhutan like Bumthang, you are expected to spend 8 to 10 days on the trip. If you run short of time, you can take a flight from Paro to Bumthang. If you want to go even further to the east for, say, Gomphu Kora Festival in Trashigang or Sakteng Festival in Sakteng, 10 plus days are needed.

4. How far in advance to book my Bhutan festival tour?

For most tours, the booking must be completed 8 weeks in advance, but for tours during the festivals, booking must be completed at least 12 weeks in advance. Festivals held in spring and autumn are peak travel time for tourists, and it can be difficult to secure accommodation and flight without advance notice. The Bhutan government holds a “high value, low impact” tourism policy so the tourism capacity is limited as well. If you fail to book in advance, you may not be able to travel to Bhutan at all. So, if you pop up with the idea of visiting Bhutan, contact us as soon as possible!

5. Do I Need Visa to Visit Bhutan?

For Indian, Bangladeshis and Maldivian nationals, you don’t need a visa to visit Bhutan. You will be able to obtain a permit upon entry by holding certain kinds of ID documents with at least 6 months validity. You can also use the Online Permit System to get their regional permit clearances and route permits ahead of arrival.

For other nationals, you have to get a Bhutan visa to enter Bhutan. The first thing you do is to find an authorized local agent or one of their international partners. Then you pay the agent the full amount of the tour package rates and the visa application fee. With a clear colored copy of your passport, the agent will apply for you and get a visa clearance letter. With a printed version of this letter, you will have your Bhutan visa stamped into your passport upon entry.

6. Do’s and Don’ts for a Bhutan Festival Tour

BEFORE the tour starts:
- DO book your Bhutan festival tours in advance.
- DO choose an authorized agent or their international partners.

DURING the festival tour:
Dress code
a. DO remember to take off your hat and sunglasses while entering religious sites and festivals.
b. Sneakers, jeans, and shorts are NOT allowed.
c. DO Dress decently (smart casual).

Etiquette customs
a. DO remember to walk in a clockwise direction while visiting religious places or objects like temples, monasteries, stupas (chortens), etc.
b. DO remember to use your right hand or both hands to give or receive.
c. Do NOT point with a single finger but use a flat extended hand, especially at religious places.
d. Do NOT take any photos inside temples, monasteries, dzongs and chortens unless allowed to.
e. Do NOT touch the robe of monks, any paintings, murals and any other ritual objects.